FERTILITY RATES



In 2013, Australia's total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.88 babies per woman, a decrease from the 2012 TFR of 1.93 babies per woman, continuing the trend of the past 5 years. Since 1976, the total fertility rate for Australia has been below replacement level. That is, the average number of babies born to a woman throughout her reproductive life (measured by the TFR) has been insufficient to replace herself and her partner. The TFR required for replacement is currently considered to be around 2.1 babies per woman. The TFR reached a low of 1.74 babies per woman in 2001 before increasing to a thirty-year high of 2.02 babies per woman in 2008.



Fertility rates increased slightly for women aged 40-44 years between 2012 and 2013, and decreased for all other age groups. Fertility rates remained highest for women aged 30-34 years, recording 124 babies per 1,000 women; a decrease from 127 babies per 1,000 women in the previous year. At the national level, the teenage fertility rate decreased between 2012 and 2013 with 15 babies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years in 2013. For more information see data cube Table 1: Births, Summary, States and territories - 2003 to 2013, from the Downloads tab.